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Paula Kraft

 

Tastefully Yours

Paula Kraft, founder and President of Atlanta, GA-based Tastefully Yours Catering and founding partner of the DaVinci Inflight Training Institute, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

 

 

Let’s drink our way to healthy . . .


I knew that would get your attention! You think I am talking about beer, wine or alcohol, right? Not really. We all agree that water is the best way to stay hydrated, and those in the air need loads of water on hand. Good, clean, fresh water . . . be it a designer brand or generic.

There are actually more beverages that we might want to think about stocking on the aircraft (than the usual sodas, alcohol and juice) that will come in handy for all kinds of situations. We can divide our need for drinks into several categories; for fitness, for aiding an illness, for general overall health, and for adult enjoyment. For most of the suggestions I am about to make, you will probably find the supplies on board your aircraft in the galley or pantry. If not, some of these beverage suggestions might be worth considering as a galley addition.Green Tea

Since most crews seem to be always on some sort of diet, you might be Interested in what beverages can aid in weight loss? Green tea, as I have mentioned before, can slightly increase your metabolic rate, helping in weight loss (but only if you drink at least 4 glasses a day), and so does grapefruit juice. Tea bags are light, small and easily packed on board. If green tea is not already stocked, it is a very easy addition.

Grapefruit juice may be added to your soda and juice selections as a shelf stable item or ordered with your catering. Coconut water is also newly desirable for aircraft catering I was curious why so many flights ordered coconut water, and had to research to find out what coconut water offered other than hydration and flavor.Coconut

I found that coconut water is a natural rehydration solution. The liquid from the young green coconut is best for rehydration during a long flight, exercise or a day without your recommended eight glasses of water. It can add endurance to your energy levels better than most sports drinks say they can do, and many experts feel that it rehydrates better than plain water. Not so sure about that, as I personally still believe that water should be our first choice.

Interestingly enough, coconut milk’s (different from coconut water) oil is a natural anti-fungal that fights infections such as canker sores in and around your mouth. You can drink it or just gargle with it. A steady diet of tart cherry juice can help minimize muscle pain because it contains numerous antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that speed muscle recovery when either over exercised or maintained in a stagnate position for a while. Muscle cramps, leg aches and pains while sitting on an aircraft for long periods can be disastrous. As crazy as it sounds, drinking some pickle juice can help alleviate these cramps and spasms. The pickle juice found in the jar of pickles is high in sodium and acid which offer two very important cures…it can prevent the cramps and be a another way to help your brain focus when your body begins to get tired. For those of you keeping a long hard schedule, order pickles with your sandwiches or keep a small jar of pickles on board as a snack. Pickles are the hottest new food item to hit the catering world and now we all know why. Don’t forget to try a pickled vegetable tray.

Soda

For a queasy stomach or a little air sickness, we have all heard about a drink of ginger ale or flat soda. The ginger root in ginger ale is an ancient nausea treatment, but, in the event your galley has no ginger ale, a bit of flat soda can also help. To quickly make a soda flat, pour some into a cup and heat slightly to reduce the carbonation. Honey added to warm tea or water can ease a cough by coating the back of the throat, and its natural sweetness will cause you to salivate as you swallow the warm tea (make it green tea) which will also ease the cough.

As allergy season sets in and you want a quick relief from the scratchy throat, almond turmeric drink works wonders. Heat almond milk, with a dash of ginger, cayenne, turmeric and a spoonful of honey together and you will be amazed at the results. Almond milk is available in small shelf stable cartons; honey is generally found in a condiment cup in most galleys, and ginger, turmeric and cayenne are available in mini shaker bottles which can be added to the spice drawer of the galley.

Sleepy? Have the middle of the day slump and need a pick- me- up? Try caffeine laden tea or coffee, but plain water will do the same pick- me- up without the side effects of the caffeine. Want to go to sleep instead? Your galley should have several options ready for the passengers only . . . a bit of whiskey; however the crew can have chamomile tea and warm milk or try that tart cherry juice again. The cherry juice increases melatonin levels and improves sleep duration and the quality of the sleep. Fresh cherry juice is easy to make by pureeing frozen tart cherries or even canned cherries if the caterer doesn’t have access to fresh cherries since their season is so short.

So let me mention what to drink to improve your general health. Starting with the famous hangover you might feel after partying too hard the night before, consuming extra water before bed at night will reduce the morning headache. Alcohol consumed in excess will cause dehydration and lower your blood sugar levels, so a glass of orange juice with breakfast will help. Also eat a potassium rich banana to recharge your electrolytes.

Milk

Many of you know the 'Got Milk'? ad campaign that has been around for years. Milk really is a great healthy drink. If you eat extra spicy foods, you can tame the flames with a glass of milk or even drinkable yogurt. Milk, has been shown to be one of the best hunger fighters. If you drink a glass of skim milk (just watching the fat content for you) you will feel full and consume less food. A cup of chocolate milk after a long flight or after a work-out will give you a boost of energy. It has a high carbohydrate to protein ratio which has been proven to replenish you quicker and for a slightly longer period of time.

Red wines are loaded in antioxidants (which we will cover in the next few weeks) have been proven to be good for you within moderation. But . . . water, water, water assists in digestion of the foods you are eating. It will fight bad breath that occurs when eating high acid foods such as orange juice and coffee, or high sugar foods. A touch of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) in water can relieve gas and bloating which is common while flying (which could prove slightly embarrassing).

As a scheduler, flight crew member, operator, or passenger, making a few simple additions or changes to the beverages found in your aircraft galley will give you simple solutions to common health and well being issues.

 


About Paula Kraft . . .

Paula Kraft is the founding partner of the DaVinci Inflight Training Institute located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the founder/president of Tastefully Yours Catering, an aviation specific caterer, located in Atlanta, Georgia for over 35 years.

Paula is active with many aviation and catering-related groups including the International Caterers Association, the International Inflight Food Service Association and is a board member of Women in Corporate Aviation. She is the past chair of the NBAA Flight Attendant Committee Caterer’s Working Group for 15 years perfecting unique catering training sessions for NBAA conferences and events. Currently, she serves on the NBAA Flight Attendant Advisory Committee and is a member of the Training and Safety Subcommittee. Paula was a founding member of the Steering committee for the creation of a European Flight Attendant Committee and conference and serves as a subject matter expert to the board of International Standard for Business Aircraft Handlers (IS-BAH).click to visit DaVinci

After founding Tastefully Yours Catering, she has been offering culinary and food safety related training to the general aviation community. With a strong dedication to improving catering safety, risk mitigation and safe food handling, she developed and introduced the concept of “catering safety management systems”. As a certified food safety instructor, Paula offers catering SMS and culinary classes for all aviation professionals.

Paula’s first-hand experience, business acumen, research, and relationships make her an industry expert - one which allows her to share information that will help raise the professional training level for flight attendants today that will reduce the risk of food-related concerns tomorrow.

From Paula . . .

I have coordinated training programs and clinics for NBAA and EBAA conference attendees for over 10 years, created mentoring programs for caterers and flight attendants to broaden their aviation culinary skills, and to assist them in adapting to the unique challenges and constraints found in catering for general aviation. I recognize the need for training and have worked closely with flight departments, flight crews, schedulers and customer service reps at the FBOs to ensure that catering specific training provides information and skills necessary to reduce risk while assisting them in their job duties that include safe food handling, catering security, accurate transmission of food orders, and safe food production, packaging and delivery.

I fell into aviation catering quite by accident. I was the in-house caterer and bakery supplier for Macy’s department stores in Atlanta when catering was ordered for a Macy’s customer which was soon to change my life. After the client enjoyed the catering provided, I was summoned to the client’s corporate office to provide several of the items delivered through Macy’s to the executive dining room. Within a week, I was providing food for the flight department and my first order was for the President of a foreign country (as I was too be told soon after).

So, here I am, some 35 years later, still loving every minute of every day in aviation catering.

Got a question?

Paula welcomes your comments, questions or feedback. Email: paula.kraft@blueskynews.aero

 

 

 

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 19th July 2018 | Issue #472

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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